Homeschool benefits: Salem Area Mass Transit District
Youth Zero Pass lets every child ages 0-18 ride Cherriots Local, Cherriots Regional, and Cherriots LIFT in the Salem area for free, year-round, instead of paying $1.60 a ride. Eligibility is by age only, so homeschooled children qualify; teens 14-18 need a free Youth Annual Pass or Umo app account for the 2026-27 school year.
Who qualifies
Is 18 or younger
All youth ages 0-18 ride without a fare. There is no school enrollment or residency condition.
Ages 14-18 carry a pass
Teens 14-18 must board with a free Youth Annual Pass or a Umo app account on their phone, and need a new pass for the 2026-27 school year.
Age 13 and under ride as is
Younger children ride free without any pass. Cherriots recommends age 12 as the youngest for riding alone.
What the fare saves
Cherriots' fare chart lists what a full-fare rider pays on Cherriots Local and Cherriots Regional, which youth ages 0-18 do not pay.
- Youth ages 0-18, any service
- Free
- One ride, full fare
- $1.60
- Day pass, full fare
- $3.25
- 30-day pass, full fare (Umo only)
- $45.00
- Annual pass, full fare (Umo only)
- $540.00
- LIFT or Dial-a-Ride one-way fare
- $3.20
Adults riding with your children still pay their own fare, so the savings apply only to riders 18 and under.
How to ride free
- Before the first ride
Get a pass for teens
Bring each child 14-18 to Cherriots Customer Service at 220 High St. NE in Salem to set up a Umo account or pick up a free Youth Annual Pass.
- Outside Salem
Use a partner location
Youth Annual Passes are also handed out at the Polk Community Resource Center in Monmouth, the Chemeketa Polk Center in Dallas, and the Santiam Teen Center in Stayton.
- Every ride
Show the pass
Teens show the pass or Umo app when boarding. Children 13 and under just get on.
- Each school year
Renew the teen pass
Cherriots requires a new Youth Annual Pass for each school year, including 2026-27.
What it includes
Included
- Cherriots Local buses
- Cherriots Regional buses
- Cherriots LIFT
- Rides year-round, not only on school days
Not included
- Fares for adults riding along
- Riders 19 and older
Good to know
Cherriots lists no school ID requirement
Bring your teen to Customer Service or a partner location to set up the free pass or Umo account, and call 503-588-2877 first to ask what proof of age to bring.
Who to contact about Youth Zero Pass
Customer Service issues Youth Annual Passes and Umo accounts and helps with trip planning, Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
info@cherriots.org 503-588-2877 Youth Zero Pass page
Homeschool rules and statewide help in Oregon
You must notify your local Education Service District (ESD) within 10 days of withdrawing from school, or of the school year's start if not withdrawing. You must notify the ESD if you leave your school district or stop homeschooling. After a move to a new ESD, notify the new ESD within 10 days.
Oregon sets these rules:
- Subjects: Oregon does not require specific subjects or a particular curriculum.
- Testing: Use an approved standardized test by August 15 after grades 3, 5, 8, and 10, subject to the initial 18-month testing grace period and disability-plan alternatives. Interscholastic participants meet annual testing or district-adopted alternative academic-evidence requirements, which may include an approved portfolio or work sample.
- Records: Keep test results and submit them to the Education Service District when requested. Retaining the ESD notification acknowledgment is also recommended.
- Teachers: Oregon does not require a teaching certificate or degree to homeschool your own child.
Read the Oregon homeschooling guide See statewide programs in Oregon
Questions parents ask
- Can we use Youth Zero Pass for field trips and errands during the school day?
- Yes. The fare is eliminated year-round on all Cherriots Local, Regional, and LIFT service, not only for school trips.
- How young can my child ride alone?
- Cherriots recommends age 12 for riding without an adult, as long as your child can travel safely and independently.
- Is Youth Zero Pass permanent?
- Not formally, but Cherriots describes the partners as committed to continuing it. It began as a trial on September 4, 2022, and Salem-Keizer Public Schools has funded it with Cherriots since 2023.
Turn support into your child’s next lesson
A student fare helps with trips to classes and activities. We handle the learning at home, with lessons built around your child's interests and feedback on their work.
$149/month per child after the trial.
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